Does Africa Need Foreign Aid for Poverty Alleviation?

Does Africa Need Foreign Aid for Poverty Alleviation? By Carolyne Simiyu Foreign aid, is the transfer and loaning of funds, international goods or services from one country to another. It is often transferred from one developed economy to another developing country.[1] The main aims of aid, particularly in poor nations, are to alleviate poverty, give support to the needy such as internally displaced persons and refugees, reconstruct infrastructure, and revamp economy. However, the efficacy of aids for poverty alleviation in Africa has lost its objective. Since the 1950s, the idea that huge sums of donations can remedy poverty has dominated economic development discourses. More than half of the sub-Saharan Africa are poorer now than in the 1960s.[2] I do not deny the fact that many factors have contributed to poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa which include natural disasters such as famine, draught, and wars. But what about the huge overflow of foreign aid they have been channeling to this developing countries? What did they use it for? According to statistics, while progress has been made in other developing regions of the world, especially East Asia in the last six decades, the percentage of those living in extreme poverty increased in sub-Saharan Africa.[3] Such statistics can be both appalling and at the same time overwhelming. There are several reasons to why foreign aid is ineffective for poverty alleviation in Africa. The first reason is that poverty in African countries is not a vicious circle waiting to be broken by foreign assistance. Instead, poverty is created by economic institutions that systematically block the incentives and opportunities of poor people to make their lives better by themselves and their country.ÂÂ   Let us for instance the system of apartheid in South Africa which Nelson Mandela campaigned against. In this situation, apartheid was a set of economic institutions which was intended to work against the black South Africans. It contained rules that governed and dictated to people what they should do and what they should not do, including the incentives and opportunities they are entitled to.[4] In 1913, the South African government declared that 93 per cent of South Africa was for the white economy, while 7 per cent was for blacks (who constituted about 70 per cent of the popul ation). Blacks had to have a pass a national passport to travel to the cities for job opportunities in the white-controlled mines and industries. They could not own property, nor start a business there. Such economic institutions, which we call extractive sapped the God-given potentials and opportunities of the vast population of black South Africans and largely kept them in poverty. While the country was rich during this period, the wealth was in few hands and the majority were poor. As such, foreign aid would not remove such institutional violence that deprived the majority access to the national resources. It should be noted that people in poor countries have the same ambitions as those in rich countries. Just like those from developed nations, people from poor nations also need freedom of accessibility to economic resources, to have the same opportunities and chances to good health care, clean portable water in their homes and quality education for their children. The reason to why the poor remain poorer is because their basic ability including their talents have been denied the opportunity to grow by their various institutions in those countries. In Sub-Sahara African states, it is important to note that once you are wealthy, you are privileged because you are entitled to power while the poor on the other hand, are less privileged and at the mercy of those in power. By way of conclusion, the evidence from above examples and analysis have shown that poor people are trapped within extractive economic institutions and until these institutions undergo a radical reform, foreign aid and any development it seeks to achieve will only be a mirage, not only in Sub-Sahara Africa, but across all developing countries of the world. 1. Shah, Anup. Foreign Aid for Development Assistance. Global Issues: Sunday, September 28, 2014, http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/foreign-aid-development-assistance [2].ÂÂ   Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. Why foreign aid fails and how to really help Africa. The Spectator. January 27, 2014. Accessed February 04, 2017. http://www.spectator.co.uk/2014/01/why-aid-fails/. [3]. Fosu, Augustin Kwasi. 2015. Growth, Inequality and Poverty In Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Progress In A Global Context. Oxford Development Studies 43, (1) (Jan 02): 44-59, https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgibin/ezpauthn.cgi?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1680154815?accountid=15115 (accessed February 4, 2017). [4]. Ronci, Donatella. 1973. Apartheid In South Africa: Exploitation and Superprofits. La Critica Sociologica 25, (0): 117-128, https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgi-bin/ezpauthn.cgi?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/60911505?accountid=15115 (accessed February 4, 2017). Acromegaly Case Study: Healthcare Needs Acromegaly Case Study: Healthcare Needs Changing Care needs through the life stages You are required to write an assignment based on a person who is in the late stages of adulthood. The person can be a family member, friend or client. The assignment requires you to write about in general the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development in later adulthood first and then compare it to the actual individual’s current well being and lifestyle using the PIES tool. You must explore your own personal prejudices, fears and anxieties about working with people in your care. What has influenced it? What has changed it? Included in the assignment should be any variations whether positive or negative that are affecting the individual as well as recommendations on how you can positively and confidently respond to the needs of the person during this stage of life. Specific conditions: You must seek permission from the adult before writing essay. You must change the identity of the person as well as respecting confidentiality of the person. The essay must cover the following headings P.I.E.S of development during late adulthood(10 Marks) P.I.E.S of development of individual as well as your own personal prejudices, fears and anxieties.(5 Marks) Variations/factors affecting individual at this stage of life(5 Marks) Recommendations to respond confidently to the needs of the person(10 Marks) Introduction For my assignment I have chosen a family member in the late stages of adulthood with a condition called acromegaly. For this assignment I will use the internet, books and information directly from my family member and her immediate family in order to complete this assignment. All names will be changed in order to protect the person’s privacy and confidentiality. Permission has been sought from my family member to do this assignment on her condition and her stage of development. Main Body Clients Name – Lucy Age – 67 Condition – Acromegaly ‘Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that develops when your pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone’ (Mayoclinic.org, 2015) P.I.E.S of development during late adulthood Physical needs – During late adulthood our physical appearance is diminishing slowly this is due to cellular senescence (cells in our bodies start to decline) (Mark Stibich, 2015). Wrinkles start to appear as skin is losing elasticity. Our bones start to lose calcium and can become brittle (osteoporosis) and harder to heal. Certain illnesses are more likely to appear as one ages such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and respiratory problems. A good diet and regular exercise and most importantly a positive attitude in late adulthood can help greatly in prolonging these physical changes. However, even with a good lifestyle and a positive attitude, unforeseen circumstances may happen which triggers further degradation of a person’s health at this stage of development. Retirement and all it has to bring is in full swing. (Maslow, Hierarchy of Needs) According to Erik Erikson from the age of 65 we start to feel that our lives have become less productive. This indeed can be very true if we do n ot have a good retirement plan. With the more and more emphasis that is been put into place for retirement plans and groups that are been set up for the retired person this is helping greatly with these issues. Intellectual needs – As we age our cognitive ability declines. In late adulthood this can become apparent as our intellectual abilities start to decrease, some difficulties with memory and information processing (Paget). This is why it is crucial that adults in this stage keep their brain stimulated and active with certain activities. Even by keeping up reading newspapers, crosswords, bingo, and quiz’s.(Activity Theory) A lot of retirement groups that are being set up and there are courses that adults in this stage of development can do which will keep their minds busy and their brain stimulated which can have a domino effect on their mental health. Unfortunately illnesses may occur that have a negative effect to our cognitive ability such as dementia (Alzheimer’s, Lewy body, front temporal and vascular), Stroke or acquired brain injuries. Emotional needs – Erik Erikson stages of development describes late adulthood stage 65 + as a stage of Ego Integrity vs Despair. He believed that at this stage we look back on our lives so far and if we do not feel we accomplished everything we needed to at this stage of development we can develop a sense of despair which in turn will lead to feelings of depression. With this in mind this can be a very emotional time for some. At this stage of life it is imperative that we have family and friends that we can talk to and share our fears and feelings with. At this stage of development a person that has a life threatening illness may go through several emotions which is described by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her grief cycle. (Changingminds.org,2015) Social needs – At this stage of development it is crucial to have interaction with family and friends. As without these interactions a person in late adulthood can feel very isolated. A lot of people before this stage of development, are used to a busy social life, whether it is working or raising their families (Jung’s Theory on Ageing). It is very important that they are invited to family gatherings, social events and are visited regularly. This will help greatly with their physical, intellectual, and emotional needs which can have positive effects on the person’s health if they are kept socially active. It is also important that a person is encouraged to get involved with the various retirement clubs that are set up in their area.(Active retirement Ireland). P.I.E.S of development of individual as well as your own personal prejudices, fears and anxieties Physical needs – As Lucy is 67 and is in the late stages of adulthood her physical appearance is starting to diminish. Along with these changes unfortunately Lucy has to contend with other physical changes due to her condition acromegaly. A once average size woman Lucy has significantly shown signs of change physically. Her feet have gone from a size 6 to a size 9 shoe, her hands have grown bigger in size also and her weight has risen. She has had to deal with retirement and her condition all at once. A mother of 4 whom held down a full time job as a care assistant in a local nursing home in her area and kept her housework to perfection as she says her self she is a cleaning addict. At the age of 64 she discovered she had the condition acromegaly and in the last 3 years she has undergone surgery and radiotherapy to try and reduce the benign tumour on her pituitary gland. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful and Lucy has now to inject herself daily with Somavert 10mg, a medication to reduce the secreti ons of growth hormone by the pituitary gland. Lucy lives with her daughter, her daughter’s husband and their 2 children. I feel this is helping greatly with her physical needs as she still helps out with housework when she is well and she brings her grandchildren for walks to the park and playground. Intellectual needs Intellectually Lucy keeps her mind active by reading novels, and attending bingo when she is well enough. As part of her condition acromegaly she is part of a team in Beaumont Hospital whom are researching this condition that is affecting 400 people in Ireland. I feel this is helping her greatly intellectually as she is learning more and more about the condition and it is keeping her mind and brain active while doing so. Emotional needs Lucy’s emotions at this stage of her development and with the condition acromegaly can be all over the place. But with her family network around her and her close friends that she can talk to about her fears and anxieties this is a great help to her emotionally. I feel from talking to Lucy that she is very well informed by the research team at Beaumont and this is helping her greatly in dealing with her condition. From talking to her about her life so far I have gathered that she feels she has accomplished everything she needed to so far for this stage of development and I feel she can develop through this stage with a virtue of wisdom (Erik Erikson) Social needs – At this stage of development Lucy’s social needs are still of high importance. She still attends bingo with a close friend, family gatherings and family outings. Sometimes she feels that people she hasn’t seen in a while think she has put on weight by over eating but in fact it is because of her condition. She is a very outgoing person so this doesn’t bother her much as she just explains to them her condition. During her outings to Beaumont for research days she has got close to other people whom are at the same stage of development as her and also going through the same condition. My own personal fears, prejudices and anxieties at this stage of development Upon starting my work experience in a nursing home I had a fear that people in the late stage of adulthood development that were in a nursing home were left sitting in an arm chair all day with no interaction from other residents or staff. I realised the first day that this was not the case and that my nursing home had a activities coordinator that did SONAS activities with all residents. As part of the new HIQA standards person centred care approach this was a crucial part of standard working procedure. Variations/factors affecting individual at this stage of life At this stage of development Lucy is quite lucky as her daughter and son in law and grandchildren live with her and her sons live within a mile radius of her house. I feel this is a positive factor at this stage of life and with her condition as she has the comfort of a close knit family always there to help her at this stage and she has the added bonus of helping them too. With her condition acromegaly and the stage of development she is at I would worry that her medication daily (somavert) and indeed the condition itself would have adverse effects on her health (cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis) during this stage of her life. Lucy has informed me that the team at Beaumont are keeping a very close eye on her through many different tests including liver tests, blood tests and scans in order to keep a close eye on any adverse reactions to her medication and condition. Recommendations to respond confidently to the needs of the person In order for me as a HCA to respond confidently to Lucy’s needs I would need to have the correct information about her condition in order to help talk her through her treatments as I feel it is imperative to be able to confidently answer any questions she may have. I can research local support groups for Acromegaly sufferers and encourage her to join them and bring her family to help them further understand what changes are going on in her body. Using my interpersonal skills I can be a good listener and shoulder to cry on when she is feeling depressed and can take her on shopping trips to specialised shops that cater for women of larger stature. Lucy loves to write letters to family in Galway and England but finds it difficult, when her hands are paining her, therefore I can write dictations from her to keep her hobby. Even though she is not at risk of dementia from her illness, I feel it would be good to help her feel a sense of integrity about her life if we make a life book with her as she can visually see all that she has accomplished. (Erik Eriksson) Conclusion Upon researching for this assignment I have learned that the late stages of adulthood development can be an emotional rollercoaster for any individual. It is my duty going forward as a HCA to be able to understand the basic needs of a person going through this stage. In doing so I need to put myself in their shoes in my thinking and how I would like to be treated at this stage of development. References Anon, (2015). [online] Available at: http://google.ie/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instantion=1espv=2ie=UTF-8 [Accessed 3 Apr. 2015]. Anon, (2015). [Blog] Available at: http://nandahealth.blogspot.ie/2013/09/theories-of-aging-process-biology.html [Accessed 3 Apr. 2015]. Changingminds.org, (2015). The Kubler-Ross Grief Cycle. [online] Available at: http://changingminds.org/disciplines/change_management/kubler_ross/kubler_ross.htm [Accessed 3 Apr. 2015]. Cliffsnotes.com, (2015). Theories of Aging. [online] Available at: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/psychology/development-psychology/psychosocial-development-age-65/theories-of-aging [Accessed 3 Apr. 2015]. Headstrongbrain.com, (2015). What is Cognitive Decline?. [online] Available at: http://www.headstrongbrain.com/FAQ/~Q3-48/What_is_Cognitive_Decline [Accessed 3 Apr. 2015]. Independent.ie, (2011). Pituitary gland: The tiny gland that can cause very big problems Independent.ie. [online] Available at: http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/pituitary-gland-the-tiny-gland-that-can-cause-very-big-problems-26776040.html [Accessed 3 Apr. 2015]. Mark Stibich, P. (2015). Senescence, Healthy Aging and Longevity. [online] About.com Health. Available at: http://longevity.about.com/od/whyweage/a/senescence.htm [Accessed 3 Apr. 2015]. Mayoclinic.org, (2015). Acromegaly Complications Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acromegaly/basics/complications/con-20019216 [Accessed 3 Apr. 2015]. Mayoclinic.org, (2015). Acromegaly Definition Diseases and Conditions Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acromegaly/basics/definition/con-20019216 [Accessed 30 Mar. 2015]. McLeod, S. (2007). Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. [online] Simply Psychology. Available at: http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html [Accessed 30 Mar. 2015]. McLeod, S. (2015). Erik Erikson | Psychosocial Stages | Simply Psychology. [online] Simplypsychology.org. Available at: http://www.simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson.html [Accessed 30 Mar. 2015]. Medicines.ie, (2015). Somavert 10mg, 15mg and 20mg Powder and Solvent for Solution for Injection Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). [online] Available at: http://www.medicines.ie/medicine/9530/SPC/Somavert+10mg,+15mg+and+20mg+Powder+and+Solvent+for+Solution+for+Injection/ [Accessed 30 Mar. 2015]. Rightdiagnosis.com, (2015). Aging Theories RightDiagnosis.com. [online] Available at: http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/genetics/aging.htm [Accessed 3 Apr. 2015]. OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION Healthcare Support1Edel Brew

World History Unit

Which of the forces at work in Europe played the greatest role in helping to prompt the outbreak of war? A force at work in Europe that played a large role in helping to prompt the outbreak of the war would be the formation of alliances between the several superpowers at the time. If they would have gone along with themselves and Just keep each other In check while keeping everything balanced It would be easier to create a treaty Instead of war. The alliances created Increased tensions. Another main factor is the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria Hungary. . Was he description of the Balkans as the â€Å"powder keg† of Europe justified? Yes, the Balkans was overlapping many groups that were trying to unite the Slavs and take ore more and more territory. That caused major conflict in Europe. Powder Keg refers to a keg full of explosives. It would be very unstable. The Balkans caused instability in Europe due to different people wanting its land. Not everyone could ha ve it. Everyone wanted It and no one would Just allow the other to invade it and take it for them. 8. Do you think World War I was avoidable?Yes, practically any war Is avoidable. The thing Is that more often than not the people Involved don't always know the consequences of their actions or simply don't know how everything can happen peacefully, especially when there Is tension. If Balkan â€Å"powder keg† was taken care of earlier on then the war could have been avoided. World War I would have been a difficult thing to avoid, but if tension in Europe could have been resolved then it might not have happened. Page 415 3. Which countries comprised the Central Powers? Which countries comprised the Allies?The countries that comprised the Central Powers are Germany, Austria/ Hungary and Turkey. The countries that had comprised the Allies are Britain, France, Russia, Italy, United States, and Japan. 4. What were the characteristics of trench warfare? The soldiers that were in tren ch warfare had to undergo horrible conditions. It was muddy, rat infested, and messy. Rats, lice, diseases, and fleas would be spread In massive numbers In the trenches. There would be bodies Just lying In the trenches and sometimes water would flood the trenches.Blood would be everywhere. For defense and offensive there was barbed wire, machine guns, poison gas attacks, tank attacks, and more. The trenches were set up with interlinking passages to the front and the command center. 5. What factors contributed to Russian's war difficulties? The first factor was the factories. Out of all the European nations, Russia was the least developed. The factories could not manufacture enough supplies and didn't always have enough materials. Second factor is Education. Russians weren't able to be trained too well for the war.Most troops weren't educated well. A large majority couldn't read or write. Third factor is transportation. As I said earlier the Russians are much undeveloped. Their railw ays were not efficient and It took a long time to bring food and supplies up to the front. Fourth and last factor Is leadership. Russian generals were not the best generals. Plus with the uneducated troops, most of them weren't able to effectively give orders. 6. How was war on the Western and Eastern front different? How was It the same?The war for the Eastern led to the collapse of Russia whereas the war in the Western front did Austrian defeated the Allied forces and defeated Russia. The Western front had very developed trenches, while the Eastern had less developed trenches. 7. Why did the Schlemiels Plan ultimately collapse? The Schlemiels plan was designed so that the German army would not have to fight on two fronts. It failed more several reasons. There were many delays, for example the Belgians resisted Germany. Although Germany definitely overpowered them, Germany was still delayed one month.This allowed the French to move north to confront the German army. Because of the delays caused by the British and Belgians, the French had more time to transfer troops. The Russians were then able to mobile their army in an amazing 10 days instead of the expected 6 weeks. 8. Why might it be fair to say that neither side won he battles of the Some or Verdure? Both sides lost a massive amount of soldiers. The losses were extremely horrendous. Very little ground was gained for either side. Both of the sides lost hundreds of thousands of men. All of that gave them no gain in distance.It was a negative battle for both sides, therefore neither side had won. It would be hard to choose if a side won because both lost so much and gained so little. Page 422 6. In what ways was World War I truly a global conflict? World War I was a global conflict for a number of reasons. It involved fighting in many different nations. Not only in Europe but outside countries, such as United States, Japan, and the countries of the British Empire which are Australia, Canada, India, New Zeal and, and South Africa). There wasn't a nation in the world that wasn't somewhat affected.The world was shifted. It involved a majority of the world's great powers. 7. Do you think governments are Justified in censoring war news? Why or why not? In wartime some censorship is necessary. People who do not value freedom tend to be cautious and censor too much. However sending out false news is not ethical. The government also wouldn't want a lot of panic. The enemy could also easily read their papers so they wouldn't want to give out information that might Jeopardize their battle plans. Censoring could help with rebellion against the government. . Which of the non- European countries had the greatest impact on the war effort? America had the greatest impact on World War l. Before we came in the Allies had virtually lost and even Britain was nearly overtaken. America also took part in the treaty. President Wilson attended the conference and was one of the four who created the entire peac e treaty. Page 427 6. Were the Versailles treaties fair? Consider all the nations affected. The Versailles readies were after World War l. The Versailles was fair to everyone except the Germans.Most of the nation's got what they were looking for. Those nations made sure to get what they wanted for the pain and suffering that they had undergone. 7. Why might the European allies have been more interested in punishing Germany than in creating a lasting peace? The European allies still went to war with Germany. They would have their reasons to be interested in punishing them. They did kill their men. 8. Was the United States right to reject the Treaty of Versailles? Why or why not? Yes, because those terms towards the Germans were very harsh and not

“Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” - 865 Words

We all remember the day of the Littleton high school shooting also referred as the Columbine High School Massacre. When the flashing new lines of (CNN News, 1999) stated that 25 people were killed at the High School by two heavily armed male students that also took their own lives; it was shocking and very disturbing news to learn that something so horrible caused this students to kill their own peers. What was the reason that drove these students to kill? Was the students bullying these boys, did they belong in the reject circle, the outcast’s of the high school, were they the weirdo’s because they loved to learn; while everyone else was focused on their looks and the next football game. Maybe, and this is†¦show more content†¦First off, majority of high school students only think about high school as a social club, as a learning institute. Why? Because all they worry about are the latest shoes coming out, whether or not if I’m prettier than them, or who’s the cutest person in school. The high school world is made up of cliques of individual that are the same age and are somewhat act the same why, It’s all about who’s cool and who’s a loser. As Botstein stated in his article, in no workplace not even college is there such age-segregation environment. When puberty meets education and learning, things get very dicey. Doing these valuable and crazy times in their young lives, they are ruled by their emotions and hormones. Their bodies go through changes that can be nerve-whacking, scary, and just downright embarrassing. From my personal experience as a teenager going through the American high school system, I can tell you that I seen many kids be teased, harassed and bullied because they don’t have the right shoes or other materialistic things. I have personally never been at the bottom of the social ladder in high school but I’m also not at the top of the ladder either. 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Kwanzaa 7 Principles to Honor African Heritage

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of life observed for seven days from December 26 to January 1 by people of African descent to honor their heritage. The week-long celebration may include  songs, dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large feast on December 31, called a Karamu. A candle on the Kinara (candleholder) representing one of the seven principles on which Kwanzaa is founded, called the Nguzo Saba, is lit every one of the seven nights. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle. There are also seven symbols associated with Kwanzaa. The principles and symbols reflect the values of African culture and promote community among African-Americans.   Establishment of Kwanzaa Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by  Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of black studies at California State University, Long Beach, as a way to bring  African-Americans together as a community and help them reconnect  with their African roots and heritage. Kwanzaa celebrates family, community, culture, and heritage. As the  Civil Rights Movement  transitioned into black nationalism in the late 1960s, men such as Karenga were searching for ways to reconnect African-Americans with their heritage. Kwanzaa is modeled after the first harvest celebrations in Africa, and the meaning of the name  Kwanzaa  comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza which means the first fruits of the harvest. Although East African nations were not involved in the  Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, Karengas decision to use a Swahili term to name the celebration is symbolic of the popularity of Pan-Africanism. Kwanzaa is celebrated mostly in the United States, but Kwanzaa celebrations are also popular in Canada, the Caribbean and other parts of the African Diaspora. Karenga said his  purpose for establishing Kwanzaa was to give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant  society. In 1997 Karenga stated in the text  Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday. Instead, Karenga argued, the purpose of Kwanzaa was to study Nguzu Saba, which were the seven principles of African Heritage. Through the seven principles recognized during Kwanzaa participants honor their heritage as people of African descent who lost a great deal of their heritage through  enslavement. Nguzu Saba: The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa The celebration of Kwanzaa includes an acknowledgment and honoring of its seven principles, known as Nguzu Saba.  Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a new principle, and the evening candle-lighting ceremony provides an opportunity to discuss the principle and its meaning. The first night the black candle in the center is lit and the principle of Umoja (Unity) is discussed .  The principles include: Umoja (Unity):  maintaining unity as a family, community and race of people.Kujichagulia (Self-Determination):  defining, naming and creating and speaking for ourselves.Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility):  building and maintaining our community--solving problems together.Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics:  building and maintaining retail stores and other businesses and to profit from these ventures.Nia (Purpose):  work collectively to build communities that will restore the greatness of African people.Kuumba (Creativity):  to find new, innovative ways to leave communities of African descent in more beautiful and beneficial ways than the community inherited.Imani (Faith):  the belief in God, family, heritage, leaders and others that will leave to the victory of Africans around the world. Symbols of Kwanzaa Symbols of Kwanzaa include: Mazao (Crops): these crops symbolize African harvesting celebrations as well as the rewards of productivity and collective labor.Mkeka (Mat): the mat symbolizes the foundation of the African Diaspora--tradition and heritage.Kinara (Candleholder): the candleholder symbolizes African roots.Muhindi (Corn): corn represents children and the future, which belongs to them.Mishumaa Saba (Seven Candles): emblematic of Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa. These candles embody the values of the African Diaspora.Kikombe cha Umoja (Unity Cup): symbolizes the foundation, principle and practice of unity.Zawadi (Gifts): represent parental labor and love. Also symbolizes the commitments that parents make to their children.Bendera (Flag): the colors of the Kwanzaa flag are black, red and green. These colors were originally established as colors of freedom and unity by Marcus Mosaih Garvey. The black is for people; red, the struggles endured; and green, for the future and hope of their struggle s. Annual Celebrations and Customs Kwanzaa ceremonies typically include drumming and varied musical selections that honor African ancestry, a reading of the African Pledge and the Principles of Blackness. These readings are followed often by a lighting of candles, a performance, and a feast, known as a karamu. Every year, Karenga holds a Kwanzaa celebration in Los Angeles. In addition, the Spirit of Kwanzaa is held annually at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. In addition to the annual traditions, there is also a greeting that is used every day of Kwanzaa called Habari Gani. This means Whats the news? in Swahili. Kwanzaa Achievements The first United States postage stamp honoring Kwanzaa was issued in 1997. The stamps artwork was created by Synthia Saint James.The holiday is celebrated widely throughout Canada, France, England, Jamaica and Brazil.In 2004, the National Retail Foundation found that an estimated 4.7 million people planned to celebrate Kwanzaa.In 2009, the African American Cultural Center contended that 30 million people of African descent celebrated Kwanzaa.In 2009,  Maya Angelou  narrated the documentary  The Black Candle.   Source Kwanzaa, The African American Lectionary, http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupCulturalAid.asp?LRID183 Kwanzaa, What Is It?, https://www.africa.upenn.edu/K-12/Kwanzaa_What_16661.html Seven Interesting Facts About Kwanzaa, WGBH,  http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/connect/talk-back/what-is-kwanzaa/ Kwanzaa, History.com, http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/kwanzaa-history